Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)’s Post

Big news! The European Holocaust Research Infrastructure was granted the legal status of a European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) Read more in this blog post by Rachel Pistol, director of the UK Holocaust Research Infrastructure (EHRI-UK) and senior research fellow at the Parkes Institute: https://lnkd.in/eSwR3KCa

📌 Holocaust research network officially recognised as EU infrastructure. The EHRI European Holocaust Research Infrastructure (#EHRI) has been granted the status of a European Research Infrastructure Consortium by the European Commission. The new legal status is expected to spur #Research cooperation and archive development, thanks to greater #funding stability and increased visibility, according to Dan Michman, head of the International Institute for Holocaust Research at the Yad Vashem memorial in Jerusalem. The EHRI expects to strengthen its #network by establishing national #nodes in each of its member countries and its new status is also seen as a valuable endorsement of the EHRI’s role in fighting antisemitism and Holocaust denial. 💡 Read more: https://lnkd.in/dEjg3qtB

I encourage everyone who is not familiar with the Holocaust to visit this exhibition. This is a thread about why you should attend. A third of the Jews in the world died in the Holocaust, along with many others who were killed for being considered "inferior" by Nazis (e.g. people who were Polish, gay, or disabled). This exhibit will likely deepen your understanding of both history and current events. If you are interested in research or bioethics, you may learn about the horrific medical experiments that gave way to research ethics as we know it today. If you are interested in human rights, you may learn what happens when discrimination and dehumanization are not curtailed but instead allowed to flourish in society. If you are interested in culture, you may learn random facts about the Jews in your lives, such as why many will not drive a Volkswagen. If you are an aspiring superhero, you may learn about the very brave men and women who risked their lives to hide and help Jews during this time. If you are a parent and want to ensure your child is not ignorant about history, you can ensure they learn about one of the most significant historical events in the 20th century. If you want to do something to show the Jews in your lives that you care about them, learning about their history is a way to do that. I would be touched if a friend told me they went because they were concerned about the obvious rise in antisemitism and wanted to learn more. It might also help us have more meaningful conversations because, without the context of the Holocaust, our non-Jewish friends are not always able to understand our current fears. They might think we are paranoid or "fear-mongering". And if you are not sure why you should attend, you may still learn that what starts with the Jews rarely ends with the Jews. There is an unfortunate pattern in history where growing antisemitism is often a powerful indicator of a society on the verge of collapse. So if you would like to continue living in a democratic society, this may help you better understand why now is the time to act. Antisemitism is not just about Jews but rather a sign of looming crisis for all of us.

This International Museums Day, the IHRA reflects upon the key role that these institutions play in countering Holocaust distortion. From preserving history to educating future generations, museums and memorials are essential in shaping the communities they exist within. Here are three reasons why museums and memorials have a key role to play in the fight against rising Holocaust distortion all over the world: 1. Preserving History: Museums safeguard artifacts and documents, ensuring that the truth of the Holocaust is accessible and well-known. This preservation makes it harder for distortive narratives to gain traction. 2. Educating Society: Memorial museums serve as educational centers, teaching diverse groups about the Holocaust and its contemporary implications. This broad-based education helps many different groups of people  recognize and counter Holocaust distortion. 3. Building Community: Museums foster a culture of remembrance, bringing people together to explore complex stories of the Holocaust. This shared exploration strengthens communal responsibility and collective action against distortion. To learn more about the work of the experts within the IHRA’s Museum and Memorials Working Group (MMWG), visit: https://bit.ly/3WNuIjT #ProtectTheFacts

UPCOMING PROGRAM FOR WASHINGTON TEACHERS: Allyship and Implications of Memory: Learning about the Holocaust and Japanese American Incarceration November 7, 2024 (Zoom presentation) and November 8-10, 2024 (In person workshop, Holocaust Center for Humanity: 2045 2nd Avenue, Seattle) Washington state teachers will earn one clock hour for attendance at the Zoom presentation on November 7th, and up to 18 hours for participation in the workshop. Educators coming from outside the greater Seattle area are eligible to obtain a travel stipend up to $150. In this immersive 3-day workshop, following an introductory Zoom presentation on November 7th open to all who are interested, participants will explore the dynamics of cultural memory, what influences our collective understanding of history, and how memory is shaped by diverse experiences, perspectives, and contexts. We will delve into the memorialization of the Holocaust and the Japanese American wartime incarceration to explore how and why different communities remember the past, how memory can contribute to individual and group identities, the role of museums, memorials, and archives in preserving and transmitting memory, and the intersections of historical traumas. The workshop presenters hope that these explorations will shed light on the complexities and interconnectedness of shared histories, underlining the importance of allyship, empathy, and solidarity in our pursuit of a more inclusive understanding of the past to inform our present civic responsibilities. Learn more and apply to attend at https://lnkd.in/gFQYEJWM #HolocaustEducation

For a bit more insight into my Eisenhower & the Holocaust book, take a look at this article! https://lnkd.in/gNhVPA3A

Gabriella Komoly, Manager of International Programs of Zachor Foundation Hungary moderated the panel discussion "Attracting New Audiences Through Innovations" at the conference organized by Mémorial de la Shoah in January. The panelists Heather M. (UNESCO), Edward Serotta (Centropa), Marine Vannier (Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum ), and Marlene Wöckinger (Mauthausen Memorial) discussed topics like AI and social media in teaching and learning about the Holocaust, and the phenomenon of Holocaust distortion. The conference explored the challenges in Holocaust education faced by museums and memorial sites in the 21st century, 80 years after the end of the war.

📢 #CfP for an Special Issue "Holocaust Memory Education and the Problem of Coloniality" in Holocaust Studies: A Journal of Culture and History! This special issue, co-edited by Katrin Antweiler (University of Bremen) and Thomas Van de Putte (King’s College London), examines the global reach of Holocaust memory education, particularly in postcolonial contexts. Contributions are sought on: 🌍 Empirical case studies of Western-funded Holocaust education in the Global South 📖 Practitioner perspectives on Holocaust memory initiatives 🔍 The role of Holocaust memory in conflict resolution and prevention ⚖️ Connections between colonialism and Holocaust education 💡 Be part of shaping critical discussions on the universalization of Holocaust memory and its implications. 📌 Submit abstracts (300 words) and bios (100 words) by April 1st, 2025. First article drafts are due by October 1st, 2025. 🔗 For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/3E3faBj #CallForPapers #HolocaustStudies #MemoryEducation #PostcolonialResearch

Agree and here's some background reading to this vital project, that involves my colleague Simon Jarrett: https://lnkd.in/ebsP-e3v #disability #learningdisability #historicalresearch #humanrights